• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2023

Background: COVID-19 pandemic represented a unique stressful event that affected the physical health and psychological well-being (PWB) of individuals and communities. Monitoring PWB is essential not only to clarify the burden on mental health effects but also to define targeted psychological-supporting measures. This cross-sectional study evaluated the PWB of Italian firefighters during the pandemic. Methods: Firefighters recruited during the pandemic period filled out a self-administered questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, during the health surveillance medical examination. This tool is usually used to assess the global PWB and explores six subdomains: anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, and vitality. The influencing roles of age, gender, working activities, COVID-19, and pandemic restrictive measures were also explored. Results: A total of 742 firefighters completed the survey. The aggregate median PWB global score was in the 'no distress"" range (94.3 ± 10.3), which was higher than that observed in studies conducted using the same tool in the Italian general population during the same pandemic period. Similar findings were observed in the specific subdomains, thus suggesting that the investigated population was in good PWB condition. Interestingly, significantly better outcomes were detected in the younger firefighters. Conclusion: Our data showed a satisfactory PWB situation in firefighters that could be related to different professional factors such as work organization and mental and physical training. In particular, our results would suggest the hypothesis that in firefighters, maintaining a minimum/moderate level of physical activity (consisting of even just going to work) might have a profoundly positive impact on psychological health and well-being.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.131-143
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• 2023

Background: This study examined the detection limit of thyroid screening monitoring conducted at the time of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011 using a Monte Carlo simulation. Materials and Methods: We calculated the detection limit of a NaI(Tl) survey meter to measure ¹³¹I accumulation in the thyroid gland of children. Mathematical phantoms of 1- and 5-year-old children were developed in the simulation of the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System code. Contamination of the body surface with eight radionuclides found after the FDNPP accident was assumed to have been deposited on the neck and shoulder area. Results and Discussion: The detection limit was calculated as a function of ambient dose rate. In the case of 40 Bq/cm² contamination on the body surface of the neck, the present simulations showed that residual thyroid radioactivity corresponding to thyroid dose of 100 mSv can be detected within 21 days after intake at the ambient dose rate of 0.2 µSv/hr and within 11 days in the case of 2.0 µSv/hr. When a time constant of 10 seconds was used at the dose rate of 0.2 µSv/hr, the estimated survey meter output error was 5%. Evaluation of the effect of individual differences in the location of the thyroid gland confirmed that the measured value would decrease by approximately 6% for a height difference of ±1 cm and increase by approximately 65% for a depth of 1 cm. Conclusion: In the event of a nuclear disaster, simple measurements carried out using a NaI(Tl) scintillation survey meter remain effective for assessing ¹³¹I intake. However, it should be noted that the presence of short-half-life radioactive materials on the body surface affects the detection limit.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.138-146
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find cases of using information and communication technology and smart mobility technology in snow removal vehicles and equipment for rapid and efficient road snow removal in the event of a snowstorm, and to find ways to utilize them. Method: Cases of domestic and overseas snow removal methods are investigated, and snow removal operation methods incorporating new technologies are presented. Result: Most of the operation of snow removal equipment in Korea uses GPS, CCTV, and road traffic information systems, and in the case of overseas, road weather information systems and road snow removal monitoring systems are used. It is expected that snow removal technology using autonomous snow removal vehicles, which are smart mobility, will be developed in the future. Conclusion: The results of this study can contribute to the policy of using snow removal equipment and snow removal vehicles of local governments and related organizations.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.193-202
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• 2015

In this study, a long term monitering of nonpoint source pollution runoff is conducted at the area of transportation related and EMCs(Event Mean Concentrations) in terms of water quality items, such as BOD, $COD_{Mn}$, SS, T-N and T-P are determined for each not only runoff event and but also observation site. On the other hands, SWMM(Storm Water Management Model) model is constructed using the data collected in the transportation areas selected. Model calibration and verification of SWMM is carried out based on the data collected. And simulated EMCs was compared with observed EMCs by monitoring and prior studies. SWMM applicability estimation was Using the compared result. The results of simulation showed that BOD 5.787 ~ 14.475 mg/L, $COD_{Mn}$ 12.946 ~ 59.611 mg/L, SS 13.742 ~ 46.208 mg/L, T-N 2.037 ~ 5.213 mg/L, T-P 0.117 ~ 0.415 mg/L. And a differential between simulated EMCs and observed EMCs is too low so comparing result show high fit(BOD 4.27 %, $COD_{Mn}$ 4.87%, SS 2.31%, T-N 5.78%, T-P 14.45%). A results of compared with the prior studies, BOD and T-P are included range of prior studies, $COD_{Mn}$ and SS are lower than range of prior studies, T-N is higher than range of prior studies. Differential between simulated EMCs and prior studies EMCs was showing for survey seasonal and changing land-use, so from now on, EMCs of using the internal representatives value will be calculated by more monitoring toward various precipitation events.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2016

This study was conducted to analyze the runoff characteristics of the highway depending on the number of vehicles and to provide the installation proposal of an NPS pollution reduction facility. There were a total of 5 monitoring sites used for the study namely, Gyeongbu, Seohaean, Honam and Tongyeoung Dageon highway. Monitoring events started from 2006 until 2015 having a total of 44 storm events. According to monitoring statistics, the average antecedent dry days (ADD) and rainfall was 6.2 days and 19.2 mm, respectively. The Gyeongbu Highway (H-4) was recorded having the highest Average Daily Traffic and Catchment Area (ADT/CA) with $49.4car/day{\cdot}m^2$ while other site were less than $10car/day{\cdot}m^2$. The average concentration of the NPS pollutants generated from monitoring sites were 63.5 mg/L(TSS), 24.9 mg/L(BOD), 3.35 mg/L(TN), 0.63 mg/L(TP) and 298 ug/L(Total Zn). This exhibited lower values in comparison to the remarks of highway related runoff EMC values published in Korea. Moreover, through the results of the correlation analysis between the contaminant concentration and ADT/CA, $R^2$ value of SS showed the highest correlation with 585. Through the correlation equation between ADT/CA and EMC of TSS, when there is 73.7 mg/L of TSS EMC found from a domestic highway, ADT/CA ratio is normally $13car/day{\cdot}m^2$. Therefore, in a case of more than 13 cars passing through a certain area, the area can be considered and present as the point of generation of nonpoint source pollutants. Also, in this study, since it considered a unit area ADT indicated in previous studies, it was determined that it has a high applicability and utilization in generalized units than conventional study which were conventionally done.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3 s.99
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• pp.160-171
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• 2002

The impact of summer monsoon on water quality of the lower Nakdong River was evaluated during the summer (June-August) in 1997. Several limnological variables were measured in the interval of $1{\sim}3$ day using an automatic monitoring system (Hydrolab $Recorder^{TM}$) to detect water quality changes caused by rainfall on onehour basis. During the monsoon period (from late June to mid July), 5 times of major rainfall events of >50 mm were recorded in the river basin. Dynamic changes of water quality were observed during the monsoon, and the first rainfall event (June$25{\sim}27$) had a significant influence on the water quality at the lower part of the river. All Parameters were largely changed due to the first rain event, and the changed level was maintained until the end of monsoon period. Nutrient concentrations and turbidity increased and values of the other parameters were declined as a result of water dilution. This rainfall event, Changma, is a meteorological phenomenon caused by the East-Asian monsoon climate. The magnitude and frequency of the rainfall during the early monsoon play an important role in change of water quality and ecosystem characteristics of large river systems.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.269-276
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• 1996

A theroretical study was made on the psychodynamism of somatoform disorder. Somatoform disorder is caused by a defense mechanism of somatization. Somatization is the tendency to react to stimuli(drives, defenses, and conflict between them) physically rather than psychically(Moore, 1990). Ford(1983) said it is a way of life, and Dunbar(1954) said it is the shift of psychic energy toward expression in somatic symptoms. As used by Max Shur(1955), somatization links symptom formation to the regression that may occur in response to acute and chronic conflict. In the neurotic individual psychic conflict often provokes regressive phenomena that may include somatic manifestations characteristic of an earlier developmental phase. Schur calls this resomatization. Pain is the most common example of a somatization reaction to conflict. The pain has an unconscious significance derived from childhood experiences. It is used to win love, to punish misdeeds, as well as a means to amend. Among all pains, chest pain has a special meaning. Generally speaking, 'I have pain in my chest' is about the same as 'I have pain in my mind'. The chest represent the mind, and the mind reminds us about the heart. So we have a high tendency to recognize mental pain as cardiac pain. Kellner(1990) said rage and hostility, especially repressed hostility, are important factors in somatization. In 'Psychoanalytic Observation on Cardiac Pain', psychoanalyst Bacon(1953) presented clinical cases of patients who complained of cardiac pain in a psychoanalytic session that spread from the left side of their chests down their left arms. The pain was from rage and fear which came after their desire to be loved was frustrated by the analyet. She said desires related to cardiac pain were dependency needs and aggressions. Empatic relationship and therapeutic alliances are indispensable to psychotherapy in somatoform disorder. The beginning of therapy is to discover a precipitating event from the time their symptoms have started and to help the patient understand a relation between the symptom and precipitating event. Its remedial process is to find and interpret a intrapsychic conflict shown through the symptoms of the patient. Three cases of somatoform disorder patients treated based on this therapeutic method were introduced. The firt patient, Mr. H, had been suffering from hysterical aphasia with repressed rage as ie psychodynamic cause. An interpretation related to the precipitating event was given by written communication, and he recovered from his aphasia after 3 days of the session. The second patient was a dentist in a cardiac neurosis with agitation and hypochondriasis, whose psychodynamism was caused by a fear that he might lose his father's love. His symptom was also interpreted in relation to the precipitating event. It showed the patient a child-within afraid of losing his father's love. His condition improved after getting a didactic interpretation which told him, to be master of himself, The third patient was a lady transferred from the deparment of internal medicine. She had a frequent and violent fit of chest pains, whose psychodynamic cause was separation anxiety and a rage due to the frustration of dependency needs. Her symptom vanished dramatically when she wore a holler EKG monitor and did not occur during monitoring. By this experience she found her symptom was a psychogenic one, and a therapeutic alliance was formed. later in reguar psychotherapy sessions, she was told the relaton between symptoms and precipitating events. Through this she understood that her separation anxiety was connected to the symptom and she became less terrifide when it occurred. Now she can travel abroad and take well part in social activities.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.191-205
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• 1997

Measurements on subsurface movement of the Songsanri tomb site including the Muryong royal tomb was conducted using a tiltmeter system for the period of 15 months form July 7, 1996 to September 30, 1997. Two coordinate tilt monitoring data shows the biggest movement rate of 2.3mm/m/yr toward south in the frontal wall(N-S tilt) of the Muryong royal tomb. Southward tilting of bricks above the southern fire place in the western wall of the Muryong royal tomb is a proof of southward tilting of the royal tomb since its excavation in 1971. The eastern wall of the Muryong royal tomb is also tilting toward inside the tomb with the rate of 1.523mm/m/yr. Furthermore, tilting rate of wall increases twice in rainy season. It is interpreted tbat infiltration of water into the tomb and nearby ground in rainy season results in dangerous status for the safety of tomb structure. On the whole, normal component tilting of the walls of the 5th tomb is large than its shear component. It shows a small displacement toward one direction without no abrupt change in its direction and amount of tilting. The tilting rate of walls of the 6th tomb is about 8.8mm/m/yr in the dry season which is much bigger than those of other tombs in rainy season. Deformation events of walls of the tombs are closely related to amount of precipitation and variation of temperature. In comparison with different weather conditions, tilting is much bigger during the period of rainy weather than sunny weather. It is interpreted that rainwater flew into the turm through faults and nearby ground. High water content in nearby ground resulted strength of ground. The tilting event of walls shows a hysterisis phenomenon in analysis of temperature effect on tilting event. The walls tilt rapidly with steep rising of temperature, but the tilted walls do not come back to original position with temperature falling. Therefore, a factor of steep increase of the temperature must be removed. It means the tomb have to be kept with constant temperature. The observation of groundwater level using three boreholes located in construction site and original ground represented that groundwater level in construction site is higher than that of original ground during the rainy season from the end of June to August. It means that the drainage system of the Muryong royal tomb is worse than original ground, and it is interpreted that the poor drainage system is related to safety of tomb structure. As above mentioned, it is interpreted that artificial changes of the tomb environment since the excavation, infiltration of rainwater and groundwater into the tomb site and poor drainage system had resulted in dangerous situation for the tomb structure. According to the result of the long period observation for the tomb site, it is interpreted that protection of the tomb site from high water content should be carried out at first, and the rise of temperature by means of the dehumidifier inside the tomb must be removed.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.533-538
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• 2014

Purpose: This study is to investigate correlation between eye fatigue and letter contrast according to letter contrast changes on monitor display. Methods: Reading speed test were carried out for 53 subjects (mean age: $22.68{\pm}1.85$ years) who have over Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 1.0, and 45 subjects, who could read over 123 out of 163 letters among 53 subjects were selected. They were asked to read the letters which were composed of Black (contrast 100%), Dark gray (contrast 80%), Gray (contrast 80%), Light gray (contrast 30%) randomly. The change of their eye fatigue by letter contrast on monitor display was measured by monitoring their eyes with an eye-tracker while they were reading letters. Results: Event Duration (sec) was 33.635 for Black, 32.266 Dark gray, 33.936 for Gray, and 34.848 for Light gray. Average of Fixation Duration (sec) was 0.224 for Black, 0.218 for Dark gray, 0.239 for Gray and 0.243 for Light gray. Average of Pupil diameter (mm) was 41.133 mm for Black, 41.160 mm for Dark gray, 40.880 mm for Gray and 40.459 mm for Light gray. Frequency (blinks/sec) was 0.211 for Black, 0.206 for Dark gray, 0.221 for Gray, and 0.238 for Light gray. Conclusions: Event Duration and average of Fixation Duration were the shortest for Dark gray and the longest for Light gray. In average Pupil diameter was the biggest Dark gray and the smallest for Light gray. Blink Frequency (blinks/sec) was the lowest for Dark gray and the highest for Light gray. Visual fatigue by brightness of letters on monitor display was the least for Dark gray followed by Black, Gray and Light gray.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.6_3
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• pp.1817-1826
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• 2022

After the hydrogen fluoride leak in Gumi in 2012, the government has been systemizing the disaster management system, such as responding to and managing chemical accidents. In particular, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) is in charge of evacuation of residents following chemical accidents based on the Framework Act on Management of Disaster and Safety. In this study, an application plan was presented to support and utilize the decision-making support for evacuation of residents after a chemical accident using the chemical accident investigation equipment of the National Disaster Management Research Institute (NDMI). In the equipment operation system for scientific information collection due to chemical accidents, the roles and purpose of use of long/short distance measurement equipment were presented according to regular and emergency situations. Using the data acquired through long/short distance measurement equipment, it can be used as basic data for resident evacuation decision-making by monitoring whether chemicals are detected in an emergency and managing data on detected substances by company in a regular situation. As a result of measuring chemical substances in order to verify on-site usability by equipment only for the regular operation system, it was confirmed that real-time detection of chemical substances is possible with long distance measuring equipment. In addition, it was confirmed that it was necessary to check the measurable distance and range of the equipment in the future. In the case of short distance measurement equipment, hydrocarbon-based substances were mainly detected, and it was confirmed that it was measured at a higher level in Ulsan-Mipo National Industrial Complex than in Onsan National Industrial Complex. It is expected that it can be used as basic data to support decision-making in the event of chemical accidents through continuous data construction in the future.